as JA explains ,Cassadnra , teh "scribe " of the family being away from home, it falls to JA to write this letter of condolence to Phladelphia Walter.

Philadpehia's father, William-Hampson Walter died on 6th April 1798.He had, poor man been suffering from dementia and had been senile for the past year.

As some of us know, writng this type of letters is a very hard task,but I think JA manges it perfectly.